Rested Antetokounmpo powers Bucks past Hawks

A night off worked wonders for Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored
33 points to lead the visiting Bucks to a 133-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks
on Sunday.

Antetokounmpo was given Friday night off to help him deal with ongoing right
quad soreness and a left hip contusion. He returned to lead the Bucks in
scoring, shooting 9 for 17 from the field and surpassing the 30-point mark for
the 18th time this season.

Antetokounmpo, who has tried the third-most free throws in the NBA, was 14 for
19 from the line. He also had six rebounds and four assists.

The win was the 30th of the season for the Bucks, who remain the only team in
the league without back-to-back losses, now 12-0 in games following a loss.
The Bucks have won 12 of their last 15 and won their sixth straight meeting
against Atlanta.

The Bucks also got 24 points from Eric Bledsoe, giving him 20-plus for the
eighth time, along with 10 assists and two steals. Khris Middleton scored 17
and Atlanta native Malcolm Brogdon scored 14.

The game was different than the first meeting between the two teams this
season, played nine days ago, when Milwaukee outscored Atlanta 43-14 in the
first quarter and ran away to a 32-point victory in Milwaukee. The Bucks did
lead after 12 minutes, but only by three points (35-32). They outscored the
hosts in each quarter, but never by double digits in slowly building their
lead before pulling away.

On Sunday, rookie Trae Young led the Hawks with 26 points, giving him 20 for
the 10th time (though the first time since Dec. 29). Young was just 7 for 16
from the floor but got to the free-throw line 13 times and made 11. He added
10 rebounds and four assists.

The Hawks also got 18 points and seven rebounds from DeAndre' Bembry, 13
points and 11 rebounds from John Collins, and 13 points and six rebounds from
rookie Omari Spellman. Taurean Prince returned after missing 18 games with an
ankle injury and scored seven points in 11 minutes.

Atlanta plays again on Tuesday against Oklahoma City in the second game of its
four-game homestand. Milwaukee returns home on Tuesday to play the Miami Heat.